diff --git a/units/initrd-parse-etc.service.in b/units/initrd-parse-etc.service.in
index e592d3c2cb..3dadab1123 100644
--- a/units/initrd-parse-etc.service.in
+++ b/units/initrd-parse-etc.service.in
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ DefaultDependencies=no
 Requires=initrd-root-fs.target
 After=initrd-root-fs.target
 
+Conflicts=emergency.target
+
 OnFailure=emergency.target
 OnFailureJobMode=replace-irreversibly